Automatic photographing apparatus.



N0. 645,2l5. Patented Mar. l3, I900. J. F. RADERS.

AUTOMATIC PHGTOGRAPHING APPARATUS;

(Application filed July 19, 1895.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets8heet I.

Jill/111M m: uonms PEYERS 00., womumu. WASHINGTON, n. c.

N0. 645,2l5. Patented Mar. [3, I900.

' J. F. BADERS. AUTOMATIC PHOTDGRAPHING APPARATUS.

(Appl ication fi1ed -Tu1y 19, 1895.)

(No Model.) 3 Shear-Sheet 2.

'm cam: PETERS :0. moi'aLrmo. WASHINGTON, n, c,

Patented Mar. l3, I900.

ND. 645,2l5.

J. F. RADERS.

AUTOMATIC PHUTDGRAPHING APPARATUS.

(Application filed July 19, 1895.) ("0 Model.) 3 Sheets-Shut WITNESSES:A INVENTOR 07! 3 7PM M M? d if a s M HIS ATTORNEY THE ucnms FETERS co,PHOTO-LUNG. wAsumaTcu. u, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH F. RADERS, or NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MEsNEASSIGNMENTS, To THE AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPH MACHINE COMPANY;

OF wEsT VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1%. 645,215, dated. March13, 1906. Application filed m 19,1895. Serial No. 556,496. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. RADERS, of New York,(llushing,) in thecounty of Queens and State of New York, have invented cer- 5 tain newand useful. Improvements in Automatic Photographing Apparatus,of whichthe following is a specification.

My improvement relates to the construction of apparatus embodyingmechanisms which operate to produce a more or less finished photographfrom a sensitized plate, the various mechanisms comprised in theapparatus being under the control,as regards their operation, of aproper coin introduced by an individual into the apparatus.

I will describe an automatic photographing apparatus embodying thefeatures of my improvement and then point out its novelty in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of theinterior of the inclosing case of the apparatus, showing various partsof the operative mechanisms of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a front view ofa plate-carrier with its support comprised in the apparatus, the fulllines in this figure representing one position of the carrier,while thedotted lines represent a second position of the same corresponding tothe elevation of the plate from a bath of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is anenlarged side view of a portion of the construction shown in Fig. 2,illustrating the arrangementof the plate-gripping device, the full linesrepresenting the position thereof when engaging the plate and the dottedlines the same in a disengaged position. Fig. 4: is a top view of aplate-support comprised in the improvement, showing the construction forreleasing the plate therefrom. Fig. 5 is a top view of a portion of aplate-magazine, showing the method of imparting to the same astep-by-step forward movement. Fig. 6 is aside elevation,partially insection, of the plate-magazine. Fig. 7 is 5 a top view of a bath and itsaccessories comprised in the improvement. Fig. 8 is a 1ongitudinalsection on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a transverse section on theline 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section throughalight-shaft. Fig. llis adetail view 56 of the shutter in elevation,showing the same. in closed position; and Fig. 12 is a similar viewshowing the shutter open. Fig; 13 is a side elevation of a clockwork foractuating various mechanisms comprised in the improvement. Fig. 14. is asimilar view of the opposite side thereof. Fig. 15 isaperspective viewof a mechanism for operating the shutter showing a construct-ion forrendering the duration of exposure adjustable.

Similar letters and numerals of reference designate corresponding partsin all the figures.

A designates the casing for holding the operative parts of theapparatus. It may be 6 5 of any suitableform and construction and occupysuch a position vertically as will bring the light-shaft B, passingthrough the side of the casing, at such a height as corresponds to theaverage height of persons posing before the opening of the shaft.

" The light-shaft B in the present instance is represented as being funnel-shaped in form, its larger end opening through an aperture in theside of the casing, from which point the shaft extends rea'rwardly to alens 13 or combination thereof, arranged across the axis of the shaft.At the rear of the lens 13 is a shutter 0, while rearwardly of theshutter the light-shaft is prolonged by a divergent 8o tube B D istheframework alfording support for the various parts of the apparatus. Itmay be of convenient'form and material.

E is a plate-magazine sliding on guideways 6, supported upon a shelf 6,extending from the framework D.

In construction the magazine E resembles a bottomless box, the interiorsurface of whose side walls is provided with transverse slots 0 eadapted to receive the sensitized plates.

The magazine E is provided with an inde pendent bottom plate or closureThis bottom plate is provided with a shoulder e at one'end and is keptnormally closed by a s ring-catche, engaging with said shoulder.

\ hen the magazine is placed on guideways e on platform c in its initialposition in the machine, aprojection e on said catch comes in contactwith one of the guideways e and raises it out of engagement with theshoulder e to permit the magazine to move independently of the bottomplate, whichis retained in position by the shoulder e abutting againstthe end of slide e.

' e represents a knob or handle attached for convenience to the bottomplate 6 p A rack e is secured to the side of the magazine E, the toothof a pawl 6, carried by a lever 6 pivoted at 6 adjacent themagazine,engaging with the rack to move the magazine intermittently orstep by step forward as the pawl-lever is oscillated on its pivot. Therear end of the pawl-lever 6 supports a cam-roller e held in contactwith the periphery of a cam 6 by a spring 6 The cam e is affixed to-theextremity of an upright driving-shaft F, actuated by means that willpresently appear.

The platform 6 is provided with a vertical slot (2 through which eachplate successively descends as the magazine E is moved forward at eachstep a distance corresponding to the distance between two successiveplates; A spring-supported abutment F may be provided at the end of themagazine, that the initial position of the latter may be at any timeaccurately defined.

\Vhen the magazine is placed in the machine, it is pushed along theslides e until it comes in contact with the stop F, which isspring-seated. On the operator releasing the magazine the spring-stop Fpushes the magazine a slight distance along the slide, so that theshoulder 6 will come in abutment. Having descended the slot 6 the platefalls within slots formed in jaws g g of a plate-support G. (See moreparticularly Fig. 4.) This support comprises the said jaws g g,pivotally supported at the points 9 g upon an extension of the mainframework D. A fixture g? at one end of an oscillating lever g isconnected by pivoted links g g with extensions of the jaws g g. Theoscillating lever g is swung upon its fulcrum-point by a cam g affixedto the driving-shaft F, against which bears a cam-roller g supportedupon the adjacent arm of the lever. A spring g secured to the rearportions of the jaws, serves the purpose of normally closing the jaws.

The jaws g g of the plate-support G are arranged rearwardly of theextension 13 of the light-shaft and in line therewith. Consequently whenthe plate is held in the platesupport G it will extend across the axialline of the light-shaft.

I have shown a convenient form of shutter for controlling the exposureof the plate. It will be seen to consist of wings H H, pivoted within aclosed casing formed at the rear of the lens B. A lever H, extending onboth sides of a fulcrum-point 72,, supports at one end a transverse pinh, engaging with said wings. At the opposite end of the lever there ispivoted an operating-bar H by which the lever H may be swung upon itssupport. It is evident that when this bar H is moved lengthwise in onedirection the wings H H will be swung upon their pivots to expose theopening through the light-shaft, while a reverse movement of said barwill have the effect of bringing the wings together. The bar H isoperated by means presently to be described.

I will now pass to a description of the platecarrier by which theexposed plate is immersed in the various liquids incident to its finalcompletion.

I I are tubular guides secured at the sides of the platform 6, throughwhich pass tubular rods M, comprised in the carrier. At their upperextremities these tubular rods are secured one with the other by across-piece 2". Through each tubular rod i there passes an inner rod 11which at its lower extremity extends downwardly beyond the tubular rode,forming one member 2" of a gripping device. The opposite memberof thisgripping device is formed by a hinged piece i whose hinged portion isarranged adjacent the. lower extremity of the tubular rod 2'. Thishinged piece is provided with an inclined lug 1, whose inclined surfaceis adapted to be forced against the extremityof its correspondingtubular rod 2', and thereby forcibly press the hinged member 2' of thegripping. device against the fixed member 2' to grasp a plate. The rodsextend above the cross-piece i and terminate in heads "0' i Between theshoulders formed thereby and the upper extremities of the tubular rods2' 2' there are interposed helical springs i exerting aforce to move therods 2' 1 upwardly and the tubular rods 1' "L downwardly. Evidently fromthis construction there results when the springs 11" 1'? are free to actan impingement of the. inclined lugs 1' 2 against the extremities of therods 1 i and a consequent closing of the members constituting thegripping device.

K is a cord or other flexible connection secured to the cross-piece 1T,passing over a pulley vertically above its point of attachment andthence to a driver, which will be This cord K serves for I presentlydescribed. the elevation of the plate-carrier, while the latter descendsby gravity. Stops 7c 70, consisting of screws secured in a bracket ofthe main frame D, are arranged vertically above the heads t i of therods '6 F, that said heads may contact therewith and compress thesprings 1' 1, thereby releasing the gripping device at thelowerextremities of the rods 1' i Passing now to the bath for holding theseveral liquids in which the exposed plate is immersed, L designates areceptacle or box mounted upon wheels Z, the latter resting upon tracks1, supported upon a bracket extending from the main framework D. Thereceptacle or box'L forming the bath is divided by suitable transversepartitions into seven compartments. Compartment No. 1 is designed toreceive a cell Z containing the developing solution for the exposedplate. Compartment No. 2, the next one removed from No. 1, is awater-compartment in which the plate is immersed after coming from thedeveloping solution. Compartment No. 3 holds a cell Z containing thefixing solution for the plate. Compartment No. 4 is a secondwatercompartment for washing the plate when removed from the fixingsolution. Compartment No. 5 holds a cell 1, containing the coloringsolution for the plate subsequent to the development and fixing of thesame. Compartment No. 6 is a third water-compartment for the finalwashing of the finished plate. Compartment No. 7 is a temporarydepository for the plate prior to its descent through the delivery-chuteZ.

For the purpose of effecting the thorough washing of the plate atvarious stages during the process of its completion I provide means forcausing a flow of water through the several water-compartments duringthe immersion of the plate therein. L designates a trough extendinglongitudinally of the receptacle L and secured to the side thereof.Ducts Z lead from this trough to the several watercompartments 2, 4, and6. A discharge-spout Z for directing a current of water terminatesdirectly above the trough L, the spout being arranged at the extremityof a conduit Z leading to a valve-casing Z whose valve is actuated by acam Z secured to the drivin g-shaf t F. As the plate is immersed threetimes in the water-compartments, there will be three leaves orprojections upon the cam Z thereby actuating the valve three times for acomplete rotation of the driving-shaft F. The water-supply to the valve-chamber withinthe casing Z is drawn from any suit-able source andenters the casing through a pipe 1.

Each compartment 2, 4, and 6 is provided with adischarge-nozzle Zdirected downward and emptying into a receiving vessel Z arrangedlengthwise of the tracks Z. From thence the waste water may be withdrawnas desired. The bath receives the intermittent motion necessary to placeits compartments successively beneath the plate carrier by means to bedescribed.

M is a coin-chute extending from an opening in the casing to a pointdirectly above a pocket m upon a pivoted lever m, normally occupying aposition as shown in Fig. 1. WVhen acoin has been. placed in the chuteM, however, and has descended and rests in the pocket m, the outer endof the lever m will be depressed, its inner end striking an arm mthereby oscillating a shaft m to which said arm is secured. To the shaftm there is likewise secured a bent finger m and a toe m The free end ofthe bent finger m enters an opening between pins on m upon the outerportion of a time-disk m rotated by a suitable clockwork m The toe mrests against the under surface of a pivoted lever m which by itsoscillation serves to rock a catch on and release a clockwork on. The

catch M coacts with the notch of a notched disk m driven by clockwork mto secure the release and arrest of that clockwork. A series of disks MM M M M are rotated by the clockwork on. These disks are arranged upon asleeve M, longitudinally adjustable along a shaft M but compelled torotate therewith by an engaging feather and keyway or similarconstruction. To secure this lengthwise movement, I may provide oneextremity of the sleeve M with a groove M into which extends a finger Msecured to a lengthwise-adjustable rod M Five of these disks are shown;but more or less may be used, since each disk corresponds to a definiteduration-of dwell or rest of the shutter in its open position. To thisend the disks are provided with notches or recesses of varying length,and each is adapted to be brought into such a position that itsperiphery may coact with a pin M extending from a lever M The movementof this latter lever occasioned by the sliding of the pin M along thenotched periphery of the active disk is communicated to the operativebar H to move the shutter, as already described. The clockwork m alsoserves for the rotation of a cam m and a pattern wheel or disk m. Thepattern-disk m is formed with a series of elevations and depressionsupon its periphery, and against the latter rests a frictionroller mextending from one arm of a double-armed lever N. This lever is vibratedupon its fulcrum-point by the rotation of the one complete rotation fora complete rotation of the pattern-disk m Itwill be noticed that thesubscribing circle of the major part of the pattern-disk m is of a lessradius than that of the remaining portion. Upon this enlarged portion ofthe pattern-disk the roller m rests in the normal or quiescent positionof the apparatus. The proportions are such that in this position of theapparatus the stops k It will be forcibly pressed against the heads i ithe springs 2' 2' compressed, and the jaws g g of the gripping deviceopened, as already pointed out. When the friction-roller m has assumed aposition upon that portion of the pattern-disk of less diameter, themembers of the gripping device will close to grasp a plate.

The cam on is for the purpose of rocking the double-arm lever N upon itssupport, the lever supporting a roller upon one arm bearing against thecam-periphery, while the reinainingarm is slotted to embrace a suitablepin N extending from the receptacle L. The periphery of the cam m is ofthe proper contour to secure the correct movements of the bath.

The time-disk m performs one complete rotation during the variousoperations upon a IIO sensitive plate and terminating with its-deliverythrough the chute The disk is provided with a series of pins 0 upon itsouter portion, preferably adjustable thereon, as by providing a seriesof holes for the insertion of the pins.

During the rotation of the time-disk after its disengagement from thebent finger m the friction-roller m will rest in one of the depressionsof the pattern-disk, the movement of the clockwork m at the same timebeing suspended by the engagement of the catch. This position of thefriction-roller m corresponds to a depression of the carrier, with asuspended plate,into one of the compartments of the receptacle or bath.The stoppage of the clockwork 171. will continue until the finger mcontacts with the first of the series of pins 0, when the finger ridingupon the same will rock the shaft m disengage the catch m and permit thepattern-disk to further rotate to elevate and then depress the carrier,as'before, into a second compartment. Motion of the clockwork m will beagain suspended, as before, until a second pin of the series 011 thetime-disk is encountered by the bent finger m when movement of theclockwork again takes place.

' Preferably I will employ means to give the carrier and its plate aslight vibratory movement while in a compartment to facilitate theaction of the liquid upon it. A construction for accomplishing this isshown. It will be seen to consist of a d0uble=arm lever P, fulcrumed at19, one arm of the lever being provided with a cross-pin p, resting uponthe lever N, while the other arm of the lever bears upon a notched wheelp driven by suitable gearing from the clockwork m". It is evident that aslight vibratory motion will be imparted to the lever N by the lever Pas the end of the latter travels over the notched periphery of the wheelp pocket at of the lever m is thrust therefrom by impinging against astop R as the lever tilts under the weight of the coin.

S S are weights connected by suitable cords' with the clockworks m m fordriving the same.

T is an indicator driven from a rotating part of one of the clockworks,that an observer at the outside may be acquainted with the progress ofthe movements within.

Vis an electrical alarm comprising suitable contacts on moving parts toindicate to the subject posing before the lens the duration of theexposure.

For precipitating the finished picture into the delivery-chute Z fromcompartment No. 7 I preferably employ the following construction: XV isa movable slide forming the bottom of this compartment. It is thrustoutward to a position in which the bottom of the compartment is closedby springs 20.

W is a fixed stop arranged in the path of the slide W, against whichwhen the receptacle L is moved to the outer end of its move The coin inthe ment the slide strikes, thereby compressing the springs andwithdrawing the slide from beneath the bottom of compartment No. 7. Thephotograph thereupon drops from the compartment and descends the chute.

The operation of the apparatus maybe described as follows: A coin havingbeen inserted in the coin-chute descends into the pocket 1% and tiltsthe lever m, thereby releasing the clockworks m and m as beforedescribed. The vertical shaft F immediately commences its rotation, andthrough the action of the cam e and pawl-lever e operates to move themagazineE one step forward. As a result of this a plate descends throughthe slot e and rests in the plate-support. The tooth M will thereupondrop into the notch of one of the disks M, &c., momentarily restingtherein, as already described, to open the shutter and expose the plate.Further rota tion of the clockwork m and consequent movement of thepattern-disk m causes the gripping mechanism of the plate-carrier tograsp the plate held on the support by reason of the friction-roller mdescending to and resting upon the portion of the patterndisk of lessradius. Immediately after such action the jaws g g of the plate-supportare separated by the cam g and the plate-carrier and plate descend intothe first compartment of the bath containing the developing solution.The roller m has now reached the bottom of the first depression in thepatterndisk and remains in this position until the bent finger mcontacts with the first pin of the series of pins 0, arranged at theedge of the time-disk m whereupon the plate-car rier is elevated and thebath moved forward until compartment No. 2 is vertically below theplate-carrier, when the latter again descends into the compartment towash the plate. Simultaneously with this movement the valve of thecasing Z? is opened by the action of the cam Z and a current of waterpasses through the water compartment. These movements follow each other,the plate in succession being immersed in the fixing, second washing,coloring, and final washing liquids and solutions, and finally depositedin compartment No. 7, when the receptacle L moves forward, the slide Wis drawn back, and the finished plate passes to the exteriorof theapparatus through the chute Z The mechanisms are finally brought to restby a reinsertion of the finger m between the pins m m .Having describedmy invention, whatI consider as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. In an automatic photographing apparatus, the combination of aplate-carrier, a bath for holding the liquids in which the plate is tobe immersed, means for producing a relative movement between theplate-carrier and the bath, and a gripping device supported by thecarrier comprising pieces moved lengthwise of each other by the initialmovement of the ICC IIC

for holding the liquids in which the plate is to be immersed, avalvecontrolled passage-way supplying Water to the compartments in saidbath, a shaft supporting cams for producing a vertical movement of theplate-carrier and a horizontal movement of the bath, and a motor forrotating said shaft, substantially as specified.

4:. In an automatic photographing apparatus, the combination of aplate-magazine, means for producing an intermittent movement of thesame, means for controlling the time-exposure of a sensitized plate, asupport for sustaining the plate during the exposure, a bath for holdingthe liquids in which the plate is to be immersed, a plate-carrier fordipping the plate in the Various liquids, a gripping device supportedupon said platecarrier for grasping the plate upon an initial movementof the carrier and comprising lengthwise movable pieces and supportedjaws, and means for producing a relative movement between the bath andthe platecarrier to bring the various liquids under the plate insuccession, substantially as specified.

5. A bath for a photographing apparatus, having compartments forliquids, and a compartment to receive the finished plate, combined withmeans for imparting a rectilinear movement to the bath and ejecting theplate from the compartment, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH F. RADERS.

Witnesses:

W. LAIRD GOLDSBOROUGH, PIERSON L. WELLS.

